If you know Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city, then you probably know about its famous attractions, like Badshahi Mosque and Shalimar Gardens. But these aren't the only things that make the city so amazing! Check out this list of 10 lesser known facts about Lahore to find out what's really going on in the city.
1) Name: The city's name is not actually Lahore
Despite how it's spelled, Lahore is actually an older version of its name; its original name was actually Lohgarh. The city was founded in 1206 CE by Rājā Muhammad Salāhuddīn Fīrūz Jang, who named it for his birthplace, the city of Lohgarh. It means fortress of Loh, and indeed, large parts of today's Lahorite walls were built during Muhammad Salāhuddīn's reign to defend from invading Mongols. Today these walls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are one of India’s most visited landmarks.2) The Mughals were responsible for its name
Though today, it is one of Pakistan’s most populous cities, historically, Lahore was just a tiny village. It was during Mughal Emperor Akbar’s reign in 1556 that Lahore became a significant settlement. The emperor gave it its present name and oversaw many structures being built to enhance its grandeur. Today, there are numerous Mughal-era monuments scattered across its cityscape—the Badshahi Masjid (often called the biggest mosque in South Asia) and Shalimar Gardens, among others—which you can explore on your visit.3) The city was under British rule in 1947
Though it may come as a surprise to most, Lahore was not part of Pakistan until just a few months before independence. In fact, Pakistan had been established by its founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah back in August 1947 and had even undergone a partition earlier that year when India's northwestern and eastern provinces (minus their princely states) joined together to become independent India. This all changed on June 3rd, 1947 when Sir Cyril Radcliffe—the man responsible for dividing up British India—decided to add West Punjab (including what is now called Lahore but was then just an administrative district of East Punjab) into newly formed Pakistan. Overnight, what many call the cultural capital of South Asia became officially part of newly-independent Muslim-majority Pakistan.4) One of the first recorded cricket matches took place here
The modern game of cricket can be traced back to its 18th-century origin, but it is thought that a predecessor may have been played as early as 1500 in Guildford, England. The earliest known match took place in 1730 at Surrey’s Bear Inn and was between London and a team of unknown players. A bat and ball are on display at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London; however, some historians believe these items may date from 1550–1600 and not from 1729. The artifacts were unearthed by archaeologist Alan Sykes during excavations of his garden in 2002. Nonetheless, there is plenty of evidence that suggests cricket was played in other parts of Pakistan before or around 1730.5) The city has had 11 names over time
The city has been known by different names over time. An early one was Lal Kot, which means red fort; another name used for it was Lohgarh, which translates to the red stone. The city's most recent name change occurred in 2010, when Pervez Musharraf officially changed its name from 'Lahore' to 'Lahore Shah-e-qalandar,' after 12th century Sufi saint whose mausoleum is located in what is now downtown. The saint had been a patron of a noble family that hailed from modern-day Lahore before his death in 1230.6) Beautiful and historic buildings have been destroyed in this city
If there’s one thing that truly makes a city unique, it’s its architecture. Unfortunately, many of Pakistan’s older buildings have been demolished in order to be replaced by new construction. The result is that Lahore has lost over 40% of its heritage sites to demolition over just 15 years – and it doesn’t look like things are slowing down. If you want to know more about what is happening with historic structures in Lahore, check out Sama R&D for more information on how you can help! To stop rampant destruction in your own city, talk to your local government representatives. Demolitions and new construction should never occur without prior public consultation. Do not stand by while your city loses its history – act today!7) Citizens have protested against such destruction
Many around the world were shocked when an historical monument and community center, Badshahi Masjid, was destroyed by PML-N leaders in early 2017. The sacred structure was built in 1671 and a petition was signed by over 50% of Pakistani citizens who called for its preservation. When such destruction is protested against, it only reveals how oblivious certain ruling party leaders have become to public opinion. And it goes without saying that Pakistanis love their history—in fact, over half of Pakistanis can trace their ancestry to Punjab province alone!8) Rickshaws are a must-try if you visit the city
Rickshaws are an awesome mode of transportation! They're fun to ride, easy to hail and they can get you where you need to go. If you’re visiting Lahore and have time, be sure to catch a ride in one of these old-fashioned vehicles that have been used since way before cars were even invented. The rickshaw wallahs (drivers) take good care of their vehicles, so don't worry about them not being safe; all it takes is a little getting used to.9) Several industrial areas exist in this one city
The presence of these industries has been instrumental in giving Lahore its reputation of being one of world's largest industrial cities. The famous brand, Honda Atlas Cars is assembled here. Electrical and textile industries are also present in large numbers in and around lahore. It also houses some very important oil-refinery plants that make Pakistan a net exporter of energy for few hours at a time. Check out list of top 12 industrial areas in lahore10) The city celebrates festivals with unparalleled enthusiasm all year round
The sheer diversity of festivals is a testament to how rich and colorful Lahore's history and culture is. The city celebrates festivals with unparalleled enthusiasm all year round. Eid, Christmas, Holi, Muharram, Basant, Lohri—the list goes on. Even throughout November, you'll find several events happening in celebration of Diwali and Bhai Dooj. The most interesting part: Many locals don't even realize these events are religious in nature; they participate for fun more than anything else. After living here for over a decade, I’ve learned that it’s always influential to embrace rather than reject tradition—and that when celebrating others’ traditions as well as our own, we come together as one stronger community.
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pakistan